This schoolOther secondary schools in BirminghamSelective
What did Ofsted find?
Ofsted data to 30 September 2026Inspection history
- 23 October 2024Ungraded inspection: Improved significantly
- 26 March 2019Graded inspection: Good
Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades
About these grades
Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.
How hard is it to get a place?
DfE · Sept 2026 entry417 applications · 72 places offered · 50 named it first
- 2026 5.8; Birmingham median median 4.2
- 2025 6.1; Birmingham median median 4.3
- 2024 7.2; Birmingham median median 4.0
- 2023 7.2; Birmingham median median 4.1
- 2022 6.2; Birmingham median median 4.5
- 2018 7.2; Birmingham median median 4.6
- 2017 3.8; Birmingham median median 4.5
- 2016 3.6; Birmingham median median 3.8
- This school
- Birmingham median
Reception entry, September 2026: 2.0 per place (123 applications for 62 places).
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council
Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council
How this is measured
Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.
| Entry | Places | Applications | Per place | First preferences | First-pref. ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | 72 | 417 | 5.8 | 50 | 0.69 |
| Sep 2025 | 71 | 430 | 6.1 | 73 | 1.03 |
| Sep 2024 | 57 | 408 | 7.2 | 65 | 1.14 |
| Sep 2023 | 52 | 376 | 7.2 | 75 | 1.44 |
| Sep 2022 | 47 | 293 | 6.2 | 70 | 1.49 |
| Sep 2021 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Sep 2018 | 100 | 716 | 7.2 | 205 | 2.05 |
| Sep 2017 | 125 | 472 | 3.8 | 179 | 1.43 |
| Sep 2016 | 99 | 357 | 3.6 | 124 | 1.25 |
How did pupils do at GCSE?
DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisionalEvery year as a table
| Year | Pupils | Attainment 8 | 5+ Eng & maths | 4+ Eng & maths | Progress 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 (prov.) | 150 | 48.5 | 41% | 67% | – |
| 2024/25 | 159 | 48.4 | 45% | 67% | – |
| 2023/24 | 139 | 40.0 | 29% | 54% | −0.11 |
| 2022/23 | 135 | 49.0 | 50% | 68% | +0.52 |
Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.
Schools nearby
The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority
- Ark Victoria AcademyThis schoolThis schoolImproved significantly20245.8applications per place 48.5Attainment 8
- 1.2 km · BirminghamGood20244.0applications per place 46.4Attainment 8
- 1.2 km · BirminghamGood20223.5applications per place 46.6Attainment 8
- 1.2 km · BirminghamGood202346.4Attainment 8
- 1.3 km · BirminghamGood20233.6applications per place 41.4Attainment 8
- 1.3 km · BirminghamGood20235.8applications per place 43.6Attainment 8
- 1.5 km · BirminghamOutstanding202410.2applications per place 63.6Attainment 8
- 1.8 km · Birmingham20267.5applications per place 40.1Attainment 8
- 1.8 km · BirminghamRemains Good202216.6Attainment 8
- Exceptional
- Strong standard
- Expected standard
- Needs attention
- Urgent improvement
- Does not apply
Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.
School details
- Type
- Free schools
- Phase
- All-through
- URN · DfE number
- 141752 · 330/4019
- Trust
- Ark Schools
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Capacity
- 1,920 pupils · 1,519 on roll
- Free school meals
- 68.6% of pupils (England median 23%)
- Nursery
- Has nursery classes
- Opened
- 1 September 2015
- Replaced
- Ark Chamberlain Primary Academy (URN 138052); Oldknow Junior School (URN 103260)
- Address
- Talbot Way, Small Heath, Birmingham, B10 0HJ
- Local authority
- Birmingham
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources